ABSTRACT
Throughout this textbook there have been countless examples and discussions of the various facets of sustainability in Civil Engineering. For example, in Chapter 5, sustainable concepts around Low Impact Development were discussed while in Chapter 6, various types of retaining walls were explored to hold back earth fills. Chapter 7 introduced the building material cross-laminated timber and Chapter 8 tied crash modification factors to sustainability. Research papers and technical reports were the primary source of information for these topics, but there is another way to quantify the performance of infrastructure: certification programs. While there are literally dozens of sustainable certification programs available, also known as sustainable rating systems, three specific sustainable certification programs will be discussed here, along with several rating systems that lean toward the business side of companies. These sustainable certification programs can enhance the design process, reduce risk and increase accountability of implementing sustainable practices, improve the quality of life of citizens who utilize the infrastructure, and finally these sustainable certificate programs offer recognition to the owners of the infrastructure and the contractors who built the infrastructure. The three sustainability certification programs discussed will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Envision, and GreenRoads. The rating systems on the business side are a part of Environmental, Social, and Governance, or ESG.
